On June 1, 2017, Bill 89: the Supporting Children, Youth and Families Act (CYFSA) received royal assent in the Ontario Legislature. Bill 89 introduces historic amendments to the Child and Family Services Act (CFSA).
The CYFSA will govern a range of sectors in addition to child welfare including youth justice, child and youth mental health and residential services. It focuses on four broad areas for service improvements including Prevention and Protection, Quality Improvement, Accountability and Oversight and, Support for First Nations, Métis and Inuit People.
The new Act requires that services to children and young persons be provided in a manner that takes into account a range of aspects of their unique identity. It also contains a clear and explicit set of rights for all children and young people receiving services under the Act. These provisions focus on a child or young person’s right to participate and express their views when decisions are being made that affect them, a foundation of Katelynn’s Principle.
The CYFSA will be proclaimed into law in two stages. Provisions regarding raising the age of protection to include services for 16- and 17- year olds will be proclaimed on January 1, 2018, with all other parts of the bill coming into effect in the spring of 2018. The current Child and Family Services Act will remain in effect until the full proclamation of the CYFSA.